Compassion: What is the meaning of Compassion?
The meaning of compassion is to recognize the suffering of others and then take action to help. Compassion embodies a tangible expression of love for those who are suffering.
What is the definition of Compassion?
The definition of compassion, according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, is the "sympathetic consciousness of others' distress together with a desire to alleviate it."
And the New Oxford American Dictionary defines compassion as "a sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others."
Different aspects of compassion's meaning are emphasized by each dictionary.
Merriam-Webster mentions a "desire to alleviate" the distress of others, whereas the New Oxford American dictionary simply refers to the broad sympathetic feelings associated with compassion. It does not connect those feelings of sympathy and pity to any action or thoughts of action, which is really an incomplete definition.
(taken from) https://www.compassion.com/child-development/meaning-of-compassion/
There are many people throughout the years that I have had compassion for – some a healthy compassion and some an unhealthy compassion. I say that because at times it was unhealthy and I took on the other people’s burdens or issues and I was never supposed to.
I would “help” them or so I thought I was helping them, but I was doing what I would do in that situation…clean their place, do their errands, try to help them with anything that needed done.
I now recognize that it didn’t help them. It actually may have prolonged their healing. I didn’t ask them what would help, I just acted on what would have helped me if I was going through something like that. I now recognize that it may have caused them more pain and suffering on the inside because that was not what they needed at the time and I overstepped.
What they needed at that time was love and acceptance for who they were at that moment in time and I should have let them lead the healing process instead of trying to drag them through it.
I now have more understanding, acceptance and love in those situations and offer that if they need anything, that I am there waiting to assist in whatever way they need.
Questions to Ponder:
Do you know people who deserve your compassion?
Are you trying to help them in a healthy or unhealthy way?
Are you trying to take over?
Are you actually helping them or making yourself feel better?
